Brigade Models Spitfire Mk.XII Conversion By Jacob Russell

The Spitfire Mk.XII was the first variant powered by the Rolls Royce Griffon engine. It was an interim version based on existing Mk.VIII and Mk.IX airframes. The prototype, DP 845, was a conversion of a Mk.IV airframe which first flew on November 27, 1941. The 1,720 hp Griffon engine was mounted ten inches further forward in the airframe than the Merlin engine and this increased the overall length to 30 ft. 6 inches (or 30 ft. 10 inches, depending on which references one consults). A larger four bladed propeller was needed to absorb the greater power and this rotated counterclockwise, which proved to be an unwelcome surprise to Spitfire pilots used to the clockwise rotation of the Merlin. A much larger spinner was also fitted. The Mk.XII used the Mk.Vc wing with clipped wingtips, and armament consisted of one 20mm cannon and two 7.7mm machine guns per wing. 100 planes were built. 45 were based on the Mk.IX airframe and had non-retractable tailwheels and 55 were converted from Mk.VIII airframes with retractable tailwheels. All 100 planes had the Mk.VIII broad chord rudder. The Mk.XII was used by two squadrons, Numbers 41 and 91, for home defence duties and was in service for only one year. The Mk.XII performed best at low altitudes and was very successful in countering the Luftwaffe’s “tip and run” nuisance raids on British coastal targets.

The Kit

The conversion kit comes packed in a sturdy cardboard box and is designed to be used with Italeri’s Spitfire Mk.Vb kit. It consists of eleven parts- two fuselage halves, two upper wing halves, two broad chord rudders (one of which is applicable to Brigade’s Seafire conversion set), four propeller blades, and a spinner. The moldings are the limited run type one associates with manufacturers such as Pegasus and Ventura and feature large sprue gates. The parts are well molded, panel lines are well done and there is good rivet detail, which is both raised and recessed where applicable. There are sink marks on the trailing edge of the upper wing halves and the distinctive fishtail exhaust stacks are poorly depicted. The spinner lacks a separate backing plate and location points for the propeller blades. The blades themselves are thick and will benefit from reshaping with a sanding stick. No wing cannon are provided but there is a scrap view on the instruction sheet for those who want to scratchbuild these items.

The instruction sheet is a two sided black and white sheet with a detailed set of assembly instructions, a decal placement diagram, and a camouflage pattern drawing which can be enlarged to make painting masks. The decal sheet is well printed and in register. It includes one set of national insignias, with separate centers for the roundels, a Sky fuselage band, one set of stencils, and markings for five different aircraft. Two of these have the fixed tailwheel- EB*H, MB794, 41 Squadron and DL*K, EN625, 91 Squadron. The other three planes-DL*V, MB831 91 Squadron, EB*B, MB882, 41 Squadron, and EB*D, MB858 of 41 Squadron used the retractable tailwheel. Incidentally the fuselage codes and fuselage band are an accurate shade of Sky, a color which some decal printers have failed to capture. All five decal options are in the standard mid-war RAF colors Ocean Grey/Dark Green/Medium Sea Grey. You will need to raid the spares box for a retractable tailwheel, tailwheel doors, covered wheels, and gun barrels as these are not included in either kit.

Accuracy

I checked the conversion parts against 1/48th scale plans reduced and photocopied from Aircraft Modeler International’s Spitfire Special and 1/72nd scale plans from the Modeler’s Datafile #5. I also used a 1/72nd scale ruler given to me by Jim Schubert. I measured the fuselage length on both sets of plans and then laid one fuselage half on the scale ruler. The fuselage measured just under 27 scale feet, versus a fuselage length of 27.5 feet on the former set of plans and approximately 25.75 ft on the latter. Then I measured one of the kit upper wing halves and found that it measured 8 scale feet in chord at the wingroot and 14.25 in width, in comparison to plan dimensions of 8.5 feet by 14 feet on both sets of plans, one of the only places where the plans are in agreement. I am not an expert on either Spitfires or scale plans, but I feel that the conversion certainly looks the part.

Conclusion

The Spitfire Mk.XII was very successful in its intended role, and there are several conversions and kits available in all of the popular scales. Falcon of Wellington, New Zealand, produces a 1/48th scale Spitfire conversion set which includes the Mk.XII. The conversion set is intended for the old Airfix Mk.Vb kit, it is still on the market and it is very well done. Airwaves also produces a 1/48th scale conversion intended for the Airfix/Otaki Mk.VIII and one can order it from Hannants in the UK. In 1/72nd scale the avid modeler can choose from the Brigade conversion or the Paragon conversion set, which was also produced in 1/32nd and 1/48th scales. It is intended for the Tamiya Mk.Vb kit in 1/72nd scale and may no longer be available. Czech Master Resins also released a brand new all resin kit this year. I have not seen this kit but reviews of it are very positive. It is also expensive. The Brigade Models conversion is not of the same quality as the Paragon conversion or the Czech Master kit but is a cheaper alternative to both and I think that a careful and patient modeler can build a good model from it. Recommended!

(The Brigade Models conversion set retails for approximately $25 and is available directly from Brigade Models via airmail from the following address: Brigade Models c/o Beaneys, 55 West Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 1AN, England. You can reach them via e-mail at brigademodels@btopenworld.com)

References

Modeler’s Datafile #5: The Supermarine Spitfire (Part Two: Griffon Powered), SAM Publications, 2001.
Aircraft Modeler International, Spitfire Special, 1999.
Spitfire In Action, Aircraft No.39, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1980